Russell Brand 'lit up' by impending fatherhood

Russell Brand has said he is "lit up by the idea" of becoming a father.

The comedian, who is expecting his first child with fiancee Laura Gallacher, recently swapped his London home for the countryside which he described as calmer than living in the capital.

"I'm so much happier over the course of the day to see one or two people and a few chickens, that's a good way of living," he told ES Magazine.

(ES Magazine)

On becoming a father, Russell said: "I'm very excited about becoming a dad and I'm preparing myself.

"I am just getting ready to be with a new little person and see what it is they want. I feel lit up by the idea."

Russell has recently enrolled at London University's School of Oriental and African Studies which he described as an attempt to explore religion and spirituality.

"I'd like to understand what the deep truths are of Islam, Baha'ism, Christianity; I want to know more", he said, adding: "I am very interested in the role that religion and spirituality will play in the further formulation of world events and how secular societies are held together.

"The old idea (about politics) is dead and people don't know what's replacing it yet, so I'm spending some time discovering what it is."

(Nick Ansell/PA)

Russell, who has battled addictions in the past, said he was "lucky" to have a substance misuse problem rather than a "food, sex or spending issue".

"Everybody is somewhere on the spectrum. If you look at your own life, what is it you do that isn't good for you and you can't stop doing, even if it is seemingly innocuous, like the way you watch TV," he added.

The full interview appears in this week's issue of ES Magazine which is out Thursday October 20.